Norwich City Football Club (FC) has committed to pay the living wage to all of its permanent employees.
The club will phase in the national living wage of £7.85 during the 2015-2016 season.
The national living wage is an hourly rate set independently, updated annually and paid by employers on a voluntarily basis. It is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the Minimum Income Standard for the UK, and is higher than the national minimum wage of £6.50.
Norwich City FC is currently working towards an accreditation from The Living Wage Foundation by aiming to achieve full implementation of the living wage for all its staff by the 2016-17 season.
The football club follows in the footsteps of Luton Town FC and Chelsea FC, which have both already committed to paying the living wage to employees.
Norwich City FC will also review external agencies and contractors who work at the club to make sure they meet the necessary criteria to receive the living wage by 2016-17.
The move is part of the club’s commitment to improving the business by developing talented and motivated staff.
David McNally, chief executive of Norwich City FC, said: “Everyone at the club is firmly behind the introduction of the living wage for permanent employees and we’re delighted to be able to start rolling this out across the business over this coming season.
“Although it represents a significant additional annual investment by the club, we firmly believe the business benefits substantially from having a motivated workforce whose salaries properly reflect the cost of living in the UK.
“It is our intention to begin implementing the living wage during the 2015-16 season and to have it fully in place by 2016-17.”